Fas-Fas ligand interactions play a major role in effector functions of cytotoxic T lymphocytes after adenovirus vector-mediated gene transfer.

Adenovirus vectors transduce liver hepatocytes with extreme efficiency; however, transgene expression is eliminated within 2 weeks. Extinction of transgene expression has been attributed to infiltrating cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in the liver in a process that resembles a number of human diseases, including viral and autoimmune hepatitis. In this study we investigated the role of Fas-Fas ligand interactions in killing of vector-transduced hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. Intrahepatic lymphocytes (IHLs) isolated from livers of mice administered adenovirus vector demonstrated cytolytic activity against vector-infected primary hepatocytes. The in vitro CTL activity of the IHLs involving both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was MHC class I restricted and could be blocked by soluble Fas-IgG. Adoptive transfer of IHLs from immune-competent mice immunized with Ad-lacZ into Ragl-deficient mice previously infused with Ad-lacZ resulted in rapid elimination of beta-galactosidase-transduced hepatocytes. Transfer of these cells into Fas-deficient mice (B6-lpr) failed to eliminate lacZ expression; likewise IHLs from immunized FasL-deficient mice (B6-gld) failed to eliminate lacZ expression in Rag1-deficient mice. Finally, in vivo administration of soluble Fas-IgG abrogated the ability of Ad-lacZ-primed IHLs to eliminate transgene expression. These studies establish an essential role for Fas-Fas ligand interactions in the mechanism of elimination of adenoviral vector-mediated transgene expression in the liver.